The first two episodes of the series were presented at the 75th Venice International Film Festival on September 2, 2018.[3] The first season, based on the first novel in the series, premiered on HBO on November 18, 2018, and on Rai 1 and TIMvision on November 27, 2018.[4][5][6] In December 2018, the series was renewed for a second season, based on the second novel in the series, The Story of a New Name.[7] The second season premiered on Rai 1 on February 10, 2020, and on HBO on March 16, 2020.[8][9] The first two episodes of the second season were screened in selected Italian cinemas from January 27 to 29, 2020.[8]
In April 2020, the series was renewed for a third season, based on the third novel in the series, Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay.[10] The third season premiered on Rai 1 on February 6, 2022, and on HBO on February 28, 2022.[11][12] In March 2022, the series was renewed for a fourth and final season, based on the final novel in the series, The Story of the Lost Child.[13] The first two episodes of the fourth and final season made its world premiere at the Tribeca Festival on August 20, 2024, and were presented at the 19th Rome Film Festival on October 25, 2024.[14][15] The ten-episode fourth and final season premiered on HBO on September 9, 2024, and on Rai 1 on November 11, 2024.[16][17]
Elisa Del Genio (season 1; guest season 2), Margherita Mazzucco (seasons 1–3),[18]Alba Rohrwacher (season 4; cameo season 3; narration seasons 1–4),[19] and Elisabetta De Palo[a] (featured season 4; guest season 1) as Elena "Lenù" Greco
Ludovica Nasti (season 1; guest season 2), Gaia Girace (seasons 1–3; special appearance season 4),[18] and Irene Maiorino (season 4)[19] as Raffaella "Lila" Cerullo
Anna Rita Vitolo as Immacolata Greco
Luca Gallone as Vittorio Greco
Imma Villa as Manuela Solara (seasons 1–3)
Antonio Milo as Silvio Solara (season 1; recurring season 2)
Valentina Acca as Nunzia Cerullo (seasons 1–2, 4)
Antonio Buonanno as Fernando Cerullo (seasons 1–3; recurring season 4)
Dora Romano as Miss Oliviero (seasons 1–2)
Alessio Gallo (seasons 1–3) and Edoardo Pesce (season 4) as Michele Solara
Nunzia Schiano as Nella Incardo (seasons 1–2)
Giovanni Amura as Stefano Carracci (seasons 2–3; recurring season 1)
Gennaro De Stefano (season 2; recurring season 1) and Salvatore Striano (season 4) as Rino Cerullo
Francesco Serpico (seasons 2–3; recurring season 1) and Fabrizio Gifuni (season 4) as Giovanni "Nino" Sarratore
Federica Sollazzo as Pinuccia Carracci (season 2; recurring season 1)
Clotilde Sabatino as Professor Galiani (seasons 2–3)
Ulrike Migliaresi as Ada Cappuccio (season 2; recurring season 1)
Christian Giroso as Antonio Cappuccio (season 2; recurring season 1)
Writer Elena "Lenù" Greco learns that her old friend Rafaella "Lila" Cerullo has vanished. Elena records her memories of their friendship, starting from when they were both promising students in Maestra Oliviero's class in a poor Naples neighborhood in the 1950s. The two are paired up for a contest against two students from the boys' class, Elena's crush Nino Sarratore and Alfonso, the younger son of neighborhood crime boss and grocer Don Achille. The girls become friends after Elena helps Lila after another neighborhood boy, Enzo, throws stones at her. Meanwhile, Melina, a mad widow, causes disturbance with her affair with Donato, Nino's father. The Sarratores eventually move away. On a playdate, Lila and Elena impulsively throw their dolls into Don Achille's cellar and attempt to retrieve them, though are spooked and run away. Don Achille gives them money to replace the dolls, which they decide to hide.
2
2
"The Money" "I soldi"
Saverio Costanzo
Elena Ferrante, Francesco Piccolo, Laura Paolucci and Saverio Costanzo
Elena and Lila buy and read Little Women, increasingly aware of the violent Camorra-associated Solara family. The local families discuss their children continuing on to middle school. Elena's parents allow her to take the admission exam, while Lila's parents refuse to let her continue studying. Lila convinces Elena to skip school to walk to the sea, but changes her mind midway. The two are caught in a rainstorm and Elena's father hits her for the infraction. Lila temporarily stops attending school after speaking out of turn, and reappears to gift Elena a story she had written titled "The Blue Fairy". She declares her intention to take the test, but is beaten badly by her father Fernando. Elena passes the admissions exam with high marks and is congratulated by her family. The neighborhood learns that Don Achille has been murdered. Alfredo Peluso is arrested for it, despite claiming innocence. Lila suspects the Solaras' involvement.
Elena and her peers are now teenagers, and Elena is bothered by Lila's distance. The girls watch the Solara brothers Michele and Marcello coerce their friend Ada for a car ride and Lila declares that she will not let herself be used by them. The brothers beat Antonio, Ada's brother, for standing up for her. Elena, embarrassed to admit she is struggling with Latin, is surprised to learn from the local librarian, Maestro Ferraro, that Lila is independently learning the language. Lila gives Elena advice that helps the latter improve. At an awarding ceremony for the library, Elena realizes that Lila has been voraciously checking out library books. She goes with Pasquale, son of Alfredo and a Communist, to give the prize books to Lila. Elena is inspired by Donato's gift of a book of poems to Melina. Lila and her brother Rino show Elena a men's traveling shoe they have secretly designed and intend to start a factory with. Meanwhile, Maestra Oliviero convinces Elena's parents to let her go to high school.
The neighborhood families attend a party for the name day of Gigliola Spagnuolo, a classmate of Elena and Lila. Pasquale, Enzo, Marcello, and Stefano (Don Achille's older son, who runs the local grocery) all express interest in Lila. Marcello orders Pasquale to leave and cuts into his dance with Lila, offending Pasquale, who tries to rile up their friend group against the Solaras. Pasquale begins educating Lila on neighborhood politics and history. Elena begins high school and realizes that Nino is attending the same academy. She impresses her Greek teacher, Professor Garace. Envious of Lila, Elena agrees to date her classmate Gino. Lila and Rino continue working on their shoe. Stefano invites the neighborhood youth to a New Year's Eve party, during which the boys get caught up in a fireworks contest with the Solara brothers. Here, Lila first experiences a phenomenon she will later refer to as "dissolving boundaries".
5
5
"The Shoes" "Le scarpe"
Saverio Costanzo
Elena Ferrante, Francesco Piccolo, Laura Paolucci and Saverio Costanzo
Fernando scolds Lila and Rino for daring to construct a shoe. Elena continues to excel in school and breaks up with Gino. Lila confides in Elena that she had rejected love confessions from Pasquale and Marcello. Elena, Lila, Rino, Pasquale and his sister Carmela go into the city for ice cream. Uncomfortable with the area's wealth, Rino picks a fight with a rich boy and his friends, while Marcello and Michele come to their aid. Marcello starts visiting Lila and her family; her parents approve of the courtship because of the Solaras' wealth. Elena accepts an invitation from Maestra Oliviero's cousin to spend the summer on the island of Ischia.
6
6
"The Island" "L'isola"
Saverio Costanzo
Elena Ferrante, Francesco Piccolo, Laura Paolucci and Saverio Costanzo
Elena does the housekeeping for Maestra Oliviero's cousin Nella and mostly keeps to herself. Nella's English guests are surprisingly replaced by the Sarratore family, and Elena begins to accompany them on their outings. She bonds with Nino, learning that he dislikes his father and had always admired Lila. On the eve of his departure, Nino kisses Elena on the beach. On Elena's birthday, Lila finally writes back to tell her that Marcello has continued spending time with her family and giving her lavish gifts. Marcello threatens her when she attempts to return a gifted ring. Elena decides to leave early to help Lila. Later that night, Donato assaults Elena.
7
7
"The Fiancés" "I fidanzati"
Saverio Costanzo
Elena Ferrante, Francesco Piccolo, Laura Paolucci and Saverio Costanzo
Commissioned by Rai Fiction, HBO and TIMvision, the first season was produced by Italian production companies Wildside and Fandango and international film group Umedia.[4] TIMvision withdrew from the project after the first season,[61] while production companies The Apartment Pictures and Mowe joined production for the second season.[62]
On February 18, 2020, Gaia Girace announced that she would leave the series after playing Lila in three episodes of the third season, as a new and older actress would be cast for the following episodes.[63] However, the director of the third season, Daniele Luchetti, later opted to retain Girace and Mazzucco for the duration of the season.[64]
Music
The score of the series was composed by Max Richter.
Singles from My Brilliant Friend (TV Series Soundtrack)
"Elena & Lila" Released: November 30, 2018
The soundtrack album for the first season was released by Deutsche Grammophon on December 7, 2018, for digital download.[65] It was preceded by the release of the single "Elena & Lila" on November 30, 2018.
Track listing
No.
Title
Length
1.
"Elena & Lila"
4:53
2.
"Whispers"
3:41
3.
"Your Reflection"
3:35
4.
"The Days Go By"
2:43
5.
"Interior Dialogues"
1:37
6.
"In the Dark"
2:30
7.
"In Spite of All"
2:10
8.
"Brilliant Clouds"
1:11
9.
"In Remembrance of You"
4:57
10.
"Shimmering Clouds"
1:15
11.
"She Was Running"
2:08
12.
"Our Reflection"
5:35
Total length:
36:15
Additional music
The first season features additional material from Richter's solo discography.[66]
My Brilliant Friend, Season 2 (TV Series Soundtrack) (2020)
Voices (2020)
The soundtrack album for the second season was released by Deutsche Grammophon on May 1, 2020, for digital download.[67] The soundtrack features material from Richter's solo discography.
Track listing
No.
Title
Length
1.
"Elena and Lila (Titles Season 2)"
1:13
2.
"Sub Piano (MBF Version)" (from the album Infra, 2010)
The soundtrack album for the third season was released by Deutsche Grammophon on March 4, 2022, for digital download.[68] The soundtrack features material from Richter's solo discography.
Track listing
No.
Title
Length
1.
"Romance I"
1:57
2.
"Leo (MBF Version)" (from the reissue of the album Songs from Before, 2014)
My Brilliant Friend, Season 4 (Original Soundtrack) (2024)
Heard on Tour (2024)
The soundtrack album for the fourth and final season was released by Deutsche Grammophon on September 27, 2024, for digital download.[69] The soundtrack features material from Richter's solo discography.
"Interior Dreams an Idea" (from the album Henry May Long, 2009)
2:17
10.
"Summer 1" (from the album Recomposed by Max Richter: Vivaldi – The Four Seasons, 2012)
4:11
11.
"A Folly"
3:12
12.
"Autumn 3" (from the album Recomposed by Max Richter: Vivaldi – The Four Seasons, 2012)
1:44
Total length:
39:07
Reception
Critical response
On Rotten Tomatoes, the first season has a 93% rating with an average score of 8.4 out of 10 based on 57 reviews. The site's critical consensus is, "My Brilliant Friend is an expansive epic that gleans rapturous beauty from the most desolate of circumstances, but it is the intimacy between the central duo – and the remarkable performances that bring them to life – that audiences will remember most vividly".[70] On Metacritic, it has a score of 87 out of 100 based on 20 reviews.[71] Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett of The Guardian stated "How revolutionary it still feels to see female friendship explored onscreen in this way. It goes without saying that it takes the Bechdel test and turns it into ragù."[72]
On Rotten Tomatoes, the second season has a 100% rating with an average score of 9.5 out of 10 based on 15 reviews. The site's critical consensus is, "Gorgeously shot and full of incredible performances, My Brilliant Friend's second season expands its small world with rich results."[73] On Metacritic, it has a score of 92 out of 100 based on 8 reviews.[74]
On Rotten Tomatoes, the third season has a 100% rating with an average score of 9.2 out of 10 based on 13 reviews.[75] On Metacritic, it has a score of 96 out of 100 based on 6 reviews.[76]
On Rotten Tomatoes, the fourth season has a 100% rating with an average score of 9 out of 10 based on 5 reviews.[77]
1 2 HBO listings translate the titles of episodes 3 and 4 as "The Metamorphoses" and "Dissolving Margins", respectively.
1 2 The first two episodes of the third season were released online in Italy on February 4, 2022.
1 2 3 4 HBO listings translate the titles of episodes 2, 4, 5 and 10 as "The Dispersion", "The Earthquake", "The Fracture" and "Restitution", respectively.
↑ The listed year refers to the date of the ceremony, not necessarily the year in which the corresponding season or episode aired.
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